An Old Man's Vows
For those not familiar with Banjo Paterson's poem LOST you may like to read it first to
understand the sequel below. You can find it at
http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/lost.html
He stood by the pepper tree down by the stream
and his eyes were cast down at the mound,
the hurt in his heart, which he’d carried for years,
now displaced by the peace he had found.
The promise he'd made to himself years ago
he'd fulfilled as he'd promised he would
and the daughter and grandson he'd lost years ago
lay together as he'd deemed they should.
He’d known that the filly was vicious, strong willed,
but the lad was so wilful and game.
He’d only gone down to the two mile that day,
still he failed to return all the same.
His mother searched tirelessly all through the night
and for days rode the ranges in hope.
But sadly she pined and she faded and cried,
till her small frame could no longer cope.
He lay her to rest ‘neath the pepper trees’ shade
and he vowed to his God and to her,
he’d search for the bonnie, young, winsome lad’s bones
till the ranges declared where they were.
He too was determined to track down the mare,
that now ran with the ranks of the free,
but pledged in his heart he would have recompense
for the bones ‘neath the ironbark tree.
Year in and year out the old man rode the range
and he searched every gully and ridge.
Astride his old grey with his packhorse in tow,
he forged on with his bold pilgrimage.
At times he would sight the wild mob and the mare,
but they sensed the man’s presence and fled.
Though filled with a will to win out in his quest,
the old man set his course straight ahead.
CONTINUED
Copyright © Merv Webster | Year Posted 2005
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